The event, supported by Siemens and set against the backdrop of the University of Sheffield’s Firth Court Hall on March 1, attracted many people from industry, business and public office across the Sheffield City Region and beyond.
Look North presenter Harry Gration was host for the evening, and among those who attended were Rt Hon Lord David Blunkett, the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire Andrew Coombe, the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Barry Eldred, Mistress Cutler Liz Cragg, Brian Holliday, managing director for Siemens Digital Factory and research engineer and Great British Bake Off winner, Dr Rahul Mandal.
As part of his prize for winning the Apprentice of the Year 2019 award sponsored by Siemens, Shivan, a CNC machinist for William Cook Rail in Leeds, will travel to Germany for special visit to Siemens’ award-winning Industry 4.0 Smart Factory in Amberg.
Nominations for the annual awards are made by employers and trainers to recognise the achievement or contribution apprentices have made to industry, and are judged by a panel of AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.
This year, the judges said they had been overwhelmed by Shivan’s enthusiasm and passion for industry, the positive impact he’s had on his workplace, and that he has become an inspiration for other apprentices and work colleagues around him.
On accepting the award, Shivan, who is in the first year of his degree apprenticeship, said the win is a massive boost in confidence and ‘a great feeling’ knowing his hard work has earned him such recognition.
He said: “This means everything to me. I wasn’t expecting it at all - thank you to everyone who has supported to me. That support has been very important, it has pushed and helped me to do to more and keep on progressing.”
Shivan, of Bradford, said one of the main highlights of his year was being given the opportunity to go to a McLaren Automotive press conference announcing its partnership with the AMRC because he got to sit inside three of their impressive supercars. Another high note was being involved in a project where he had to work with a company to manufacture a team of table top football players – all while still in his early days of learning about CNC machining.
Phil Mosley, machine shop manager at William Cook Rail, was at the awards ceremony to see Shivan lift the trophy. “It is very well deserved. Shivan’s hard work, effort and motivation are unbelievable and just for him to take it to the level he has, getting his Level 3 so far ahead of schedule, shows every bit of enthusiasm and that he is keen to learn,” he said. “Shivan has a very bright future ahead of him and will go all the way.”
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